Discriminative remote sensing and surface profiling based on superradiant photonic backscattering

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a system and method for remote sensing, surface profiling, object identification, and aiming based on two-photon population inversion and subsequent photon backscattering enhanced by superradiance using two co-propagating pump waves. The present disclosure enables efficient and highly-directional photon backscattering by generating the pump waves in properly pulsed time-frequency modes, proper spatial modes, with proper group-velocity difference in air. The pump waves are relatively delayed in a tunable pulse delay device and launched to free space along a desirable direction using a laser-pointing device. When the pump waves overlap in air, signal photons will be created through two-photon driven superrdiant backscattering if target gas molecules are present. The backscattered signal photons propagate back, picked using optical filters, and detected. By scanning the relative delay and the launching direction while the signal photons are detected, three-dimensional information of target objects is acquired remotely.

RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Section 111(a) application relating to and claiming thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/373,625, filedAug. 11, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference inits entirety herein.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to remote sensing, surfaceprofiling, object identification, and aiming based on two-photonpopulation inversion and subsequent photon backscattering viasuperradiance using optimized pump pulses.

BACKGROUND

Air pollution represents an increasing threat to the sustainabledevelopment of our society. As polluted gases are generated and emittedfrom various and dynamic sources, it is challenging, costly, andsometimes impossible, to monitor and measure the type and degree of airpollution using existing approaches that rely on on-site detectionand/or in-lab tests.

In events of emergency, such as a gas explosion, it is vital to be ableto get accurate information on the gaseous constituents, concentration,and distribution in short time (such as in seconds), from safe distance(such as 10 miles in warfare), and without false alarm. None of existingremote sensing/detection techniques can offer such needed capabilitiessimultaneously, in terms of low false alarm, high sensitivity, longdistance, and high spatial resolution.

Existing radio detection and ranging (RADAR) (or light detection andranging, i.e., LiDAR) is based on radio waves (or light waves) reflectedoff the object surfaces. They are thus incapable of or inefficient indetecting objects with absorptive surfaces, such as stealth aircrafts.In addition, while LiDAR offers high spatial resolution, the detectionrange is limited because the light reflection is in general notdirected, so that the returning light signal drops quadratically as therange increases.

Raman-based LiDAR systems need to use high power laser to createfrequency-shifted signals. However, because the spontaneous Ramanscattering process is not directional, the returning signal dropsquadratically with the detection distance. As a result, the applicationrange of LiDAR is limited.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to systems and methods for remote sensing,surface profiling, object identification, and aiming based on two-photonpopulation inversion and subsequent photon backscattering viasuperradiance using optimized pump pulses. In an embodiment, the presentinvention enables scanning the three-dimensional space and time ofphoton backscattering by laser pointing and timing the launching of pumppulses driving the two-photon population inversion. Because thebackscattering is sensitive to the signature level structures of gaseousmolecules, real-time 3D tomography of chemical gases can be realized fordifferent gas types over long distances, such as 10 km. This can be usedfor environmental applications such as remotely identifying andquantifying emission of polluted and toxic gases, quickly assessing thelevel of air pollution in a city, and continuous monitoring gas exhaustfrom a factory. It can also be deployed during emergent events, as theremote sensing is fast.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, the present inventionrelates to a “negative imaging” method to perform remote surfaceprofiling of stealth objects with reduced or non-reflection of radio andlight waves by detecting the sudden drop in the amount of detectedbackscattered signal photons when the backscattering is scanned by thelaser pointing and time delaying for a certain common atmosphereconstituent, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. In accordancewith one or more embodiments, the present invention utilizes spatialmode modulator to perform surface profiling and object identificationbeyond line of sight by creating pump pulses in spatial modes capable ofself-deflection, i.e., with their intensity peaks propagating along acurved trajectory that obviate from a straight line in free space,without use of any external optical devices. In accordance with one ormore embodiments, the present invention utilizes self-deflection Airybeams to simulate the bullet trajectory in the presence of gravity sothat directly aiming at distant objects can be realized without the needfor computing the gravitational bullet drop. In accordance with one ormore embodiments, robust surface profiling and project identificationcan be realized under low visibilities or direct image distortions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of thedisclosure will be apparent from the following description ofembodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichreference characters refer to the same parts throughout the variousviews.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placedupon illustrating principles of the disclosure:

FIG. 1a is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a quantumtransition for a two-photon driven superradiantbackscattering of aStokes photon whose wavelength is longer than the pump waves accordingto some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 1b is a diagram showing a quantum transition for a two-photondriven superradiant backscattering of an anti-Stokes photon whosewavelength is shorter than the pump waves according to some embodimentsof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an OpticalArbitrary Waveform Generator (“OAWG”) setup for creating pump pulses inthe desirable time-frequency profiles according to some embodiments ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a system forgenerating pump pulses in optimized time-frequency and spatial waveformsusing the OAWG shown in FIG. 2 according to some embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4a is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of superradiantbackscattering according to some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4b is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the waveformsof the pump and signal waves that allow the superradiant backscatteringof Stokes photons as shown in FIG. 1a according to some embodiments ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example offour-dimensional scanning of photon backscattering according to someembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of photonbackscattering beyond line of sight according to some embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a systemassembly for discriminative remote sensing and surface profilingaccording to some embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating steps performed according to someembodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to several embodiments of the presentinvention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingfigures. Wherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may beused in the figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. Thefigures depict embodiments of the present invention for purposes ofillustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize fromthe following description that alternative embodiments of the structuresand methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing fromthe principles of the invention described herein.

All terms defined herein should be afforded their broadest possibleinterpretation, including any implied meanings as dictated by a readingof the specification as well as any words that a person having skill inthe art and/or a dictionary, treatise, or similar authority would assignthereto.

The terms, “for example”, “e.g.”, “optionally”, as used herein, areintended to be used to introduce non-limiting examples. The phrases “inone embodiment” and “in some embodiments” as used herein do notnecessarily refer to the same embodiment(s), though it may. Furthermore,the phrases “in another embodiment” and “in some other embodiments” asused herein do not necessarily refer to a different embodiment, althoughit may. Thus, as described below, various embodiments of the inventionmay be readily combined, without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe invention.

In addition, as used herein, the term “or” is an inclusive “or”operator, and is equivalent to the term “and/or,” unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. The term “based on” is not exclusive andallows for being based on additional factors not described, unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, throughout thespecification, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” include pluralreferences. The meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.” In addition, theterms “comprises” and “comprising” when used herein specify that certainfeatures are present in that embodiment, however, this phrase should notbe interpreted to preclude the presence or additional of additionalsteps, operations, features, components, and/or groups thereof.

The present disclosure generally relates to two-photon populationinversion and superradiant photon backscattering in gaseous molecules.In one embodiment, superradiance occurs when a group of N emitterscollectively interact with light waves in a coherently constructivemanner, with the result that the radiation intensity along certaindirections is enhanced by a factor proportional to N. In order tosatisfy the condition for superradiance along the backscatteringdirection, the present disclosure creates an optimized phase andamplitude profiles for Pump 1 and Pump 2 using OAWG as described belowin details. In one embodiment, the optimization is performed using aglobal searching algorithm based on line-by-line modulating the phaseand amplitude of the frequency comb lines. In one embodiment, anoptimization involves recursive steps, each starts with certainwaveforms for the pump waves and randomly changes the amplitude andphase of each comb line that forms the waveforms. At the very beginningof the optimization process, either generic waveforms—such asGaussian-shaped waveforms—or reasonable waveforms based on priorknowledge can be assumed. The resulting waveforms are tested to check ifthey enhance the backscattering or not, as compared with the originalwaveforms. In one embodiment, the testing is performed numerically, bysolving the dynamics of the optical transitions in FIG. 1a or 1 b forthe given pump pulses created in the OAWG. In another embodiment, thetesting is performed experimentally, by measuring the backscatteringfrom a sample of the target gas. For either testing methods, the randomchanges are accepted and pumps' waveforms are updated if thebackscattering is enhanced and rejected otherwise. This step is appliedrecursively until reaching the desirable backscattering strength, uponwhich the optimized waveforms are obtained.

Schematics of quantum transitions for those processes are shown in FIG.1 according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, such transitionsexist in gaseous molecules, and the disclosed techniques can begenerally applied to a wide range of atmosphere constituents andchemical gaseous compounds.

In some embodiment, the quantum transitions start with molecules beinginitially in the ground state A 102, which is the electronic groundstate of the target molecules or a quantum state the moleculespredominantly occupy under ambient conditions, such as at 100 kPa (1bar) pressure, 290 kelvin temperature, 10 miles per hour wind speed, and30 grams per cubic meter humidity level of the atmosphere in the targetspace. In some embodiment, depending on the molecule type andtemperature of the gas, ground state A 102 may contain a collection ofvibrational and rotational quantum sub-levels, as dedicated by theBoltzman law of thermal distribution. However, when the applied lasershave broad spectral band of between 0.1 THz to 10 THz, the rotationallevels of ground state A 102, which typically have narrow spectralspacing in the range between 1 to 100 GHz, will respond as a singleeffective state. In some embodiment, the broad laser spectral band isbetween 0.1 THz to 10 THz. In some embodiment, spectral band of therotational levels ground state A 102 is between 1 to 100 GHz.

In the two-photon driven Stokes backscattering shown in FIG. 1a ,according to some embodiments, Pump 1 112 and Pump 2 114 implementtwo-photon transition to efficiently transform population from theground State A 102, where molecules initially reside under ambientconditions, to an excited State C 106, through an intermediate State B104. The State C may have zero, positive, or negative detuning from theenergy level of an eigenstate of the molecule. In some embodiment, Pump2 114 is of high intensity of between 10 KW/m² to 100 MW/m² such that itcreates a Rabi oscillation between State B 104 and State C 106, whosecharacteristic time scale is significantly shorter than the lifetime ofState B 104. In some embodiment, the Rabi oscillation characteristictime scale is between 10 nanosecond to 10 picosecond. In someembodiment, the lifetime of State B 104 is between 1 microsecond to 0.1nanosecond. Under this condition, Pump 1 112 and Pump 2 114 are designedsuch that State B 104 is only virtually populated during the populationtransfer, i.e., its fractional population remains negligible. In someembodiment, when Pump 2 114 is absent, excitation of molecules fromState A 102 is negligible as Pump 1 112 alone is not on resonance withany transition. In some embodiment, when Pump 1 112 is absent, there isalso no transition between State B 104 and State C 106 because underambient conditions almost all molecules are in State A 102 and nearlynone is in State B 104.

Once the molecules are in State C 106, they will decay to a lower energyState A′ 102′ by emitting signal photons. The State A′ 102′ will be atthe same electronic ground level as State A 102, but may or may not beat the same vibrational and rotational quantum levels. When the State A′102′ is at the same vibrational and rotational quantum levels, itbecomes identical to State A 102. In this level transition scheme, eachsignal photon has less energy, thus longer wavelength, than photons inPump 1 112, but may have more, equal, or less energy than photons inPump 2 114. The generation of signal photons starts with spontaneousemission of a molecule in State C 106, which is omnidirectional. It isthen followed by superradiant emission with enhanced emission rate,where the emitted photons will interact with other molecules in State C106 and cause additional photons to be emitted at an enhanced rate intothe same mode, i.e., with the same phase, mode shape, and emissiondirection. This is a manifestation of the boson simulation effect, andis only effective when the molecular dipole moment, i.e., the coherencebetween State C 106 and A′ 102′—which is created by Pump 1 112 and Pump2 114—is in phase with the incident photons. To realize thissuperradiance effect, Pump 1 112 and Pump 2 114 are each prepared inappropriate amplitude and phase profiles so that the backscatteringoccurs at high efficiency along one direction only, the reversal of Pump1 112 and Pump 2 114. The entire process is thus termed as two-photondriven superradiant backscattering.

FIG. 1b shows the quantum transitions for the two-photon drivensuperradiant backscattering of antiStoke photons according to someembodiments. It shares the same principle with the above Stokesbackscattering. The difference is that, in one embodiment, State C 110is at a higher energy level than State B 108, so that the emitted signalphotons will have higher energy than Pump 1 116 and Pump 2 118. In oneembodiment, Pump 1 116 and Pump 2 118 have the same wavelength. In oneembodiment, Pump 1 116 and Pump 2 118 do not have the same wavelength.

In some embodiments, Pump 1 116 and Pump 2 118 are created in theoptimized time-frequency and spatial modes by using an Optical ArbitraryWaveform Generator (OAWG) and a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM)sequentially. FIG. 2 shows a typical realization of OAWG according tosome embodiments. Other realizations are possible and can be usedequivalently to generate the same optical pulses. In one embodiment, acontinuous-wave laser beam with a typical bandwidth between 1 KHz to 1MHz is generated by a Narrowband Laser Device 202. The laser beam (notshown) is passed through a Fiber Polarization Controller (FPC) 204 andthen modulated by a Frequency Comb Generator 206 (Model: Optical CombGenerator WTAS-02, Manufacturer: Optical Comb, Inc., Tokyo, Japan) tocreate optical frequency combs with equal spectral spacing. The combsare amplified through a Fiber Optical Amplifier 208. In one embodiment,the Fiber Optical Amplifier 208 with wavelengths in the telecom C-bandis an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). The laser pulses are passedthrough a FPC 204 and then into a Waveform Shaper 210 (Model: 16000S,Manufacturer: Finisar, Sunnyvale, Calif.) where the amplitude and phaseof each comb line is modulated individually and multiplexed at a singleoutput to create pump pulses in the desired phase and amplitudeprofiles. The output pump pulses (not shown) are amplified through aFiber Optical Amplifier 208 and passed through a FPC 204 and then into aFiber Polarizer 212. In one embodiment, the Fiber Polarizer 212 pick uponly pump pulses in the desirable polarization. The picked pump pulsesare passed through a Fiber Switch 214, with some output pump pulsesexported to FPC 204 and then a frequency-resolving optical gating (FROG)216 (manufacturer: Coherent Solutions Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand), andthe other output pump pulses exported to a Frequency Converter 218. Inone embodiment, the FROG 216 measures the phase and amplitude profilesof the output pump pulses. In one embodiment, the Frequency Converter218 transduces the generated pulses to a desirable carrier frequency orthe central wavelength. In one embodiment, desirable carrier frequencyis between 3*10¹³ Hz to 3*10¹⁵ Hz. (Central wavelength between 0.1micron to 10 micron.) In one embodiment, by mixing the created pulsescentering at 1550 nm with a continuous-wave 900-nm laser in a nonlinearwaveguide for difference frequency generation, new pulses in the samephase and amplitude profile have a center wavelength at around 2146 nm.In one embodiment, depending on the stability of the entire system, theswitch periodically directs the output pump pulses to the FROG 216 toverify their phase and amplitude profiles. In one embodiment, the FROGfurther sends feedback to the Waveform Shaper 210 to correct themodulation for individual comb lines.

FIG. 3 describes an example of a system for generating pump pulses inoptimized time-frequency and spatial waveforms using the OAWG shown inFIG. 2 according to some embodiments. In order to create pump pulsesthat are modulated in both time-frequency and spatial domains, theoutput of OAWG 302 is sent to a Spatial Light Modulator 304 such as“Spatial Light Modulator, SLM-100” made by the SANTEC CORPORATION. Inone embodiment, the beam (not shown) coming out of the OAWG 302 andreflected by a Reflective Mirror 304 is first expanded through a BeamExpander 308 and passed through a Polarization Controller 308 in freespace to obtain the correct polarization for the Spatial Light Modulator304. In one embodiment, at least one of the beam's phase and amplitudeprofiles are modulated pixel by pixel in the Spatial Light Modulator304. In one embodiment, the modulated beam is then split at aBeamsplitter 312, with most light goes to the user and a small fractiongoes to a Charge-Coupled Device (“CCD”) camera 314 to verify the spatialmodulation.

Once the optimum amplitude and phase profiles are obtained, a similaroptimization procedure is performed to optimize the operation of theSpatial Light Modulator for delivering the maximum optical power withthe target area over distance. FIG. 4a describes an example ofsuperradiant backscattering in the three-wave mixing configurations asillustrated in FIG. 1 according to some embodiments. In one embodiment,two pump waves, Pump 1 and Pump 2, excite the gas molecules inatmosphere to State C (not shown), which then decay to State A (notshown) by emitting signal photons. A waveform of Pump 1 402, a waveformof Pump 2 404, and a waveform of Signal 406 are representedillustratively as dotted, dashed, and solid lines, respectively. In oneembodiment, at time 0, Pump 1 402 and Pump 2 404 create a backscatteredsignal photon at position z₁ via spontaneous emission. At time t, Pump 1402 and Pump 2 404 have traveled forward, i.e., from position z₀ toposition z₁, for a distance of c*t, where c is the speed of light inatmosphere. The scattered photon of Signal 406 has traveled for aboutthe same distance, but backwardly, arriving at position z₀. In someembodiment, if the net coherence between State C and State A, which isgenerated in the gas molecules by Pump 1 402 and Pump 2 404 at positionz₀ till time t, is in phase with the backscattered signal photon createdearlier at z₁ and now arriving at z₀, the signal photon will stimulateemission of more photons by the molecules at z₀ into the same mode. Insome other embodiment, if the coherence is out of phase, the signalemission will be suppressed, with a possibility that the signal isre-absorbed by the gas molecules. By carefully designing the phase andamplitude profiles of Pump 1 402 and Pump 2 404, the in-phase coherencealong the backscattering path is generated overwhelmingly, therebyachieving superradiant backscattering. As a result, the photon emissionis greatly enhanced and occurs significantly along the backscatteringdirection, as comparing with other scattering directions. In theembodiments as described above, the in-phase coherence is not requiredto be generated everywhere along the backscattering path. Rather, itsaggregated effect needs to predominate that of its opposite counterpart,the out-phase coherence. In the context of nonlinear optics, thecondition of in-phase coherence is manifested as phase matching, wherebynonlinear optical processes are efficient as the nonlinear interactionof light waves constructively builds up in the nonlinear media.

FIG. 4b describes an example of the superradiant backscattering of thethree-wave mixing process according to some embodiments. The exampleconsiders a level structure exhibited in FIG. 1a , where twoforward-propagating Pump waves, Pump 1 402 and Pump 2 404, createtransient excitations of the gas molecules in State C through thetwo-photon transition. Pump 1 402 and Pump 2 404 propagate along the zdirection with wavenumber k₁ and k₂, respectively, with k₁>k₂, and arerepresented by the waveforms shown in the top and middle chart of FIG.4b . The transient excitations decay back to State A almostinstantaneously, i.e., at a time scale much shorter than any othercharacteristic time scale for the whole process, during which signalphotons are generated with wavenumber k₃. The signal 406 photons'waveform is represented in the bottom chart of FIG. 4b . Assuming Pump 1402, Pump 2 404, and the signal 406 to propagate at the same speed,which is a good approximation for the earth's atmosphere, the energyconservation of this process requires k₃=k₁−k₂. As a result, for thebackscattering, the phase matching condition is not naturally satisfied,i.e., k₁−k₂+k₃=−2k₃ not equal zero. In some embodiments, thebackscattered photons at position z bear a phase factor proportional toexp(−2*i*k₃*z), where i is the imaginary unit. This will prevent thesuperradiant backscattering from constructively building up, as thecoherence between State C and A varies periodically from in-phase toout-phase along the backscattering path. The in-phase and out-phasecoherences act against each other to cancel the superradiance effect. Toovercome this deficiency, the present disclosure provides, in oneembodiment, a process to modulate Pump 2 404 to form a periodic,square-wave-like waveform structure with spatial periodicity pi/k₃,where pi is a mathematical constant, whose value is approximately3.14159. This structure is illustrated in the center chart of FIG. 4b ,where the amplitude of Pump 2 404 is modulated to zero for every otherspatial interval, each with equal length of pi/2k₃. In this way, theout-phase coherence is eliminated, as there is no transient excitationin those intervals where the amplitude of Pump 2 is zero. By only havingin-phase coherence along the backscattering path, the superradiantbackscattering becomes effective. The backscattering coefficient is a1/pi fraction of that for perfect phase matching case with k₁−k₂+k₃=0.Based on the same idea of suppressing out-phase coherence, other formsof modulation are feasible and may give a higher backscatteringcoefficient.

In some embodiments, the pump waves are modulated. The two-photonquantum transition, hence the photon backscattering, is sensitive to themolecule's level structure. As different molecules have their ownsignature level structures, the photon backscattering will be efficientonly for a particular type of molecules, but not the others, even ifthey are in the same space and time, as long as Pump 1 402 and Pump 2404 are prepared in appropriate amplitude and phase profiles. Inapplications, the profiles are obtained through global numericoptimization. In some embodiments, the optimization is performed in manysuccessive steps by solving the level transition dynamics in FIG. 1a or1 b for different molecules for the given pump pulses created by theOAWG. In some embodiments, for each step, the pump pulses are modulatedby randomly changing the phase and amplitude of their individual comblines. The modulation is accepted and the pump pulses are updated onlyif the backscattering for the target molecules is enhanced while thatfor the others is suppressed. Otherwise, the modulation is rejected andthe pump pulses remain unchanged. This step is applied recursively untilreaching the desirable performance.

The backscattered photons will be measured directly either using asensitive photon detector, such as “SPCM50A—Single Photon CounterModule” by Thorlabs Inc Newton, N.J., USA, or using the mode-resolvingphoton counter. The mode-resolving photon counter comprises of a quantumfrequency conversion (QFC) device, a source of laser pulses,beamsplitters, optical filters, photon detectors, and data acquisitionand circuit control devices. In some embodiment, the received signalphotons are combined with the laser pulses using either a beamsplitteror an optical filter. In the QFC device, the signal photons' carrierfrequency is converted if and only if they are in the desirable modes.The frequency-converted photons are picked using one or multiple opticalfilters, and detected in photon detectors. The laser pulses and anyunconverted photons are dumped. The mode-resolving photon counter isdesigned such that only a single mode matching that of the backscatteredsignal photons is detected with high efficiency. Photons in all othermodes are either not detected or detected with very low efficiency, evenwhen they overlap with the signal photons. In some embodiments, thismethod improves the signal to noise ratio in the photon detection byover 10 times from the ceiling performance achievable by ideal linearfilters. This is realized by using an OAWG device to create pump pulseswhich interact efficiently in the QFC device with only a singletime-frequency and spatial mode, the mode which the signal photonsoccupy, but not other modes, even those overlapping with the desirablesignal mode. As a result, the signal can be well distinguished frombackground noises that arrive at the detection system at the same time.

This is crucial for the applications under ambient conditions, as thesignal photons are sometimes accompanied by strong background noisesfrom sunlight, blackbody radiation, random light sources, and so on. Thesingle-mode photon detection distinguishes the signal from those photonnoises, which extends the applicable distance of the presentsuperradiant backscattering technique substantially, such as 10 km orfurther.

The coordinate and time where Pump 1 402 and Pump 2 404 meet, thus theoccurrence of backscattering, is controlled by (1) the propagationdirections of Pump 1 402 and Pump 2 404; and (2) the time and relativedelay of launching Pump 1 402 and Pump 2 404. An illustration of thiscontrol is shown in FIG. 5 according to some embodiments. The x, ycoordinate of the backscattering can be scanned by pointing the laserbeams with (θ, ϕ) launching angle relative to the z and x axis,respectively. In some embodiments, Pump 1 and Pump 2 are always launchedalong the same direction. In some embodiments, to scan the z coordinateof the backscattering, the chromatic dispersion of atmosphere isutilized. In one embodiment, for standard dry air at 15° C., 101 325 Paand with 450 ppm CO₂ content, optical pulses at 1.6 micron wavelengthtravels faster than 0.5 micron pulses for about 1800 meters per second.By launching the faster pulse after the slower pulse with a relativedelay t, the two pulses will meet at L=t*c²/δv from the place oflaunching, where δv is the velocity difference of the two pulses in airand c is their average speed. Therefore, in order for the above twopulses to meet, for example, 10 km away, the 1.6 micron pulse needs tobe launched 0.2 ns behind the 0.5 micron pulse in the above example. Inone embodiment, scanning the relative delay between Pump 1 and Pump 2can be realized using a programmable optical delay line, such asMotorized Optical Fiber Delay Lines from Newport Corporation(Headquarter at Irvine; California). The spatial resolution over whichthe location of the backscattering occurs is determined by temporalwidths of the pump pulses. If both the pump pulses have the same widtht_(w), then the resolution is about t_(w)*c²/δv. In one embodiment, 1-pspulse width gives 50 meter spatial resolution for the above 0.5-micronand 1.6-micron Pump pulses, and 0.1 ps width gives 5 meter spatialresolution.

The time lag between launching the pump pulses and receivingbackscattered photons is about 2 L/c, where c is the speed of light inatmosphere. In one embodiment, for probing events 10 km away, the delaywill be about 60 microseconds. This means that for most applications,such as remote sensing and surface profiling, the scanning can be doneeffectively instantly, allowing probing and monitoring in real time.

In some embodiments, the propagation of light beams can be manipulatedby modulating their spatial modes. In one embodiment, an Airy beam canpropagate in a self-deflection fashion that its peak intensity follows aparabolic trajectory in free space, rather than along a straight line,without any external optical steering. There is a rich group of spatialmode modulations that can lead to exotic light propagation inatmosphere. With a Spatial Light Modulator, one can create the optimizedspatial mode for a desirable light trajectory under practicalconditions.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of photon backscattering beyond line ofsight according to some embodiments. In order to probe gaseous materialsnot within light of sight, a Spatial Light Modulator is used to preparePump 1 and Pump 2 in modulated spatial modes so that their peak-powerpropagation obviates from straight lines to meet at a targeted space 608that is not in line of sight, such as behind a wall. In one embodiment,Pump 1 602 and Pump 2 604 are represented by solid and dashed pulsecurves, respectively, with their peak intensities follow a non-straightline 606 around a block 612 in the line of sight 610. They will theninteract and create backscattering signal photons via superradiantbackscattering behind the block 612. In some embodiments, the signal isin the optical domain at comparable wavelength with the pump waves.Then, because of the superradiance effect, the signal photons will becreated in the conjugate spatial mode of the pumps. Thus, theirpropagation 614 will be the reversal of the Pump 1 602 and Pump 2 604,allowing them to circumvent the block 612 and go back to the emitterwhere Pump 1 602 and Pump 2 604 are initially launched. In someembodiments, if the signal has a much longer wavelength that that in theoptical domain, such as in the far-infrared to high frequency spectrum(wavelength in the range between 100 micron and 10 m), then its spatialmode will not replicate those of the pump waves. Rather thancircumventing the block 612, a portion of it will be diffracted at ortransmit through the block 612, depending on the size, shape, andmaterial constituents of the block 612, and reach the emitter location.

A design of the system assembly is shown in FIG. 7 according to someembodiments. One embodiment of the system includes (1) a Pulse Generator702 to generate co-propagating Pump 1 and Pump 2 (represented by thesolid lines) in desirable time-frequency and spatial modes as describedabove; (2) a Tunable Pulse Delay 704 to adjust and scan the relativedelay of Pump 1 and Pump 2, as described above; (3) a Laser ScanningModule 706 to point the pumps in the target direction; (4) aMode-resolved photon counter 708 to detect the backscattered signalphotons while also rejecting background photons; (5) a Controller andData Analyzer 710 to control all components and analyze the data; and(6) an optional calibration and feedback module, where a small fractionof the generated Pump 1 and Pump 2 are sent to Reference Gas(es) 712that contain sample gaseous chemical compounds to be measured. Bydetecting backscattered photons by the Reference Gas(es) 712, theefficiency of backscattering by Pump 1 and Pump 2 is monitored andcalibrated in real time. Furthermore, the measurement can be used asfeedback for optimizing the amplitude and phase profiles of Pump 1 andPump 2.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating steps performed using the systemdescribed in FIG. 7 according to some embodiments. The method beginswith step 802 in which the Pulse Generator 702 of the system in FIG. 7generates co-propagating pump pulses in desirable time-frequency andspatial modes. At step 804, the generated pump pulses are split into twoportions by passing through a beamsplitter 714. A small fraction of themis directed to interact with a sample of Reference Gas(es) 712, whosebackscattering is measured. The measurement results are fed back to thePulse Generator 702 to optimize the pulse properties of pump pulses forefficient backscattering. At step 806, a majority of pump pulsestransmit through the beamsplitter 714 and are relatively delayed in theTunable Pulse Delay 704 as described above. The relatively delayedpulses are further adjusted and scanned according to some embodiments.At step 808, the relatively delayed pump pulses are then launched tofree space along a desirable direction using the Laser Scanning Module706. Then the pump pulses are transmitted through a dichroic mirror 716,which transmits the pump waves but reflects the signal wave. At step810, in the target space 718, if the target gas molecules are present, asignal wave will be backscattered efficiently via superradianceenhancement. The backscattered signal photons will be reflected at thedichroic mirror 716 and steered with additional mirrors 720 into theMode-resolved photon counter 708, where they will be filtered anddetected at step 812. The detection results will be fed to theController and Data Analyzer 710, where the amount and properties ofdetected signal photons, the background noise level, the coordinate ofthe target location, the arrival time of the signal photons, and otherdesirable information are recorded as the pump waves are transverselyscanned and relatively delayed.

Exploiting the molecule selective backscattering according to someembodiments of the system depicted in FIG. 7 and the method depicted inFIG. 8, this invention is used to reconstruct a 3D distribution ofchemical compounds from distance, such as 10 km away or more, in realtime. Based on the number of backscattered photons, the concentration ofeach gas is inferred. The entire procedure involves creating Pump 1 andPump 2 in the optimized amplitude and phase profiles for each chemicalcompound of interest. Those profiles are obtained from a library ofoptimized profiles for each gas component that have been experimentallyvalidated. For continuous system monitoring and calibration, theeffectiveness of Pump 1 and Pump 2 is monitored and calibrated using theReference Gas(es) 712.

In one embodiment, the 3D scanning for each chemical compound ofinterest will be performed sequentially. Once the entire scanning isfinished, the measurement data will be aggregated and analyzed to form a3D tomogram of each chemical compound. Based on the concentration anddistribution of those compounds, the source, type, and nature of thegases can be derived.

In another embodiment, the system is used to remotely profile thesurface of stealth objects. Pump 1 and Pump 2 are prepared to interactstrongly with a certain gaseous constituent of the atmosphere, which,depending on the area and weather condition of application, can benitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, or else. Starting from ashorter distance with good visibility, the relative delay between Pump 1and Pump 2 is increased such that the photons overlap further andfurther away, i.e., the backscattering is scanned along positive zdirection according to some embodiments as shown in FIG. 5. When thereis no obstacle, backscattered photons will be continuously measuredduring the scan with nearly constant photon counting rate. However, whenthere is an obstacle, a sudden drop in the backscattered photon countsoccurs, as the pump pulses are either absorbed or scattered so that theydo not produce backscattered photons able to reach the photon detector.This indicates the existence of an object without detecting an emissionor reflection of light from the object itself. By performing transversescanning of the pump waves' launching angle and increasingly sweepingthe relative delay between Pump 1 and Pump 2, the 3D surface profile ofthe object can be constructed by recording the sudden drop in thebackscattered signal. In one embodiment of FIG. 5, for the pump waveslaunching at angle (θ,ϕ), where θ and ϕ are relative to the z and xdirections, respectively, if the backscattering signal disappear as therelative time delay between the two pump waves increases to t, thecoordinate of the obstacle is calculated to be x=L*sin(θ)*cos(ϕ),y=L*sin(θ)*sin(ϕ), z=L*cos(θ), with L=t*c²/δv the traveling distancebefore the two pump waves meeting with each other. By scanning (θ,ϕ) vialaser pointing and t using a tunable optical delay device, thecoordinate information (x,y,z) of the obstacle can be obtained, whichare connected to form a surface profile of the obstacle facing theemitter. The above method implements “negative imaging,” as the 3D imageis reconstructed based on the absence of backscattered photons. Theabove method is therefore unaffected by optical properties of the targetobject.

In one embodiment, the above imaging method is to detect stealthaircrafts. Such aircrafts utilize absorptive coating to suppress itsreflection of radio waves and/or light waves. As the present negativeimaging method does not rely on reflection, it can detect suchaircrafts.

In another embodiment, surface profiling and identification of objectsnot within line of sight is realized in a manner similar to negativeimaging, but applying spatial mode modulation to Pump 1 and Pump 2 tocreate photon backscattering beyond the line of sight, as describedabove.

In another embodiment, the system shown in FIG. 7 is used to simulatebullet trajectory due to gravity. The propagation of Airy beamexperiences self-deflection such that its peak intensity follows aparabolic curve. The amount of self-deflection is controlled by itstransverse mode profile. In this embodiment, Pump 1 and Pump 2 areprepared in Airy beam by using a phase modulator and a Fourier lens asdescribed above. The modulator uses a phase mask such that the createdparabolic propagation of the Airy beam coincident with that of bulletsin air due to gravitation. This allows one to simulate the bullettrajectory and directly aim at distant object without the extra step ofcomputing the gravitational drop.

In another embodiment, the system shown in FIG. 7 is used in surfaceprofiling and project identification under low visibilities or imagedistortions. Optical beams with appropriate spatial (transverse mode)modulation, such as some ring Airy beams, are robust during propagationthrough scattering, turbulent, and/or scintillation atmospheres. Bypreparing Pump 1 and Pump 2 with appropriate spatial modulation, surfaceprofiles of distant objects can be reconstructed based on photonbackscattering, even when visibility is low or the direct optical imagesare distorted due to atmospheric effects.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended forpedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principlesof the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor tofurthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitationto such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, allstatements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of theinvention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended toencompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof.Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include bothcurrently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in thefuture, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same

While a number of embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, it is understood that these embodiments are illustrativeonly, and not restrictive, and that many modifications may becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, including that theinventive methodologies, the inventive systems, and the inventivedevices described herein can be utilized in any combination with eachother. Further still, the various steps may be carried out in anydesired order (and any desired steps may be added and/or any desiredsteps may be eliminated).

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: generating co-propagatingpulsed pump waves having shaped time-frequency modes, spatial modes, andgroup-velocity difference; relatively delaying said pump waves for apredetermined time period; launching said pump waves to a free spacealong a predetermined direction; backscattering a signal wave havingbackscattered signal photons when said pump waves overlap in said freespace; detecting said backscattered signal photons; and scanning saidpredetermined direction of said launched pump waves and said time periodof the relative delay of said pump waves to remotely obtain three-dimensional information of a target.
 2. A method for remote scanning viadetection of superradiant backscattered photons, comprising the stepsof: determining modes for a pair of co-propagating pump pulses inspatial and temporal modalities such that said pair of pump pulses areoptimized to cooperate for energizing a population of a specific gaseousmolecule into an excited state; generating said pair of pump pulseshaving said determined modes; launching a first pulse of said pair ofpump pulses into free space at a first launch angle; launching a secondpulse of said pair of pump pulses into free space at a second launchangle, said first and second launch angles being selected such that saidfirst and second pulses meet at a predetermined intersection pointaround which said population of said specific gaseous molecule exist,thereby producing from said population a first plurality of excitedmolecules, at least some of said first plurality of excited moleculesemitting photons, at least some of said emitted photons traveling alonga backscattering path and inducing further emission of photons from asecond plurality of excited molecules on said backscattering path tocreate a superradiant photonic signal, said second plurality of excitedmolecules being produced from said population of said specific gaseousmolecule in response to said first and second pulses meeting at saidpredetermined intersection point; detecting said superradiant photonicsignal; and analyzing said superradiant photonic signal to obtain dataregarding the presence, concentration and/or distribution of saidspecific gaseous molecule.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said secondpulse is launched after said first pulse is launched to thereby create atime delay between the launches of said first and second pulses.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, further comprising the step of varying saidpredetermined intersection point by varying said time delay between thelaunches of said first and second pulses.
 5. The method of claim 2,further comprising the step of scanning along a target direction byvarying said predetermined intersection point, modulating said pair ofco- propagating pump pulses and/or varying at least one of said firstand second launch angles.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein saidscanning step is conducted utilizing the chromatic dispersion of Earth'satmosphere.
 7. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step ofstoring said data regarding the presence, concentration and/ordistribution of said specific gaseous molecule.
 8. The method of claim2, wherein the steps of claim 2 are repeated with a different pair ofpump pulses for a different specific gaseous molecule, thereby obtainingmulti-faceted data on various specific gaseous molecules.
 9. The methodof claim 8, further comprising the step of generating a 3D tomogrambased on said multi-faceted data.
 10. The method of claim 2, whereinsaid analyzing step further comprises the steps of monitoring saidsuperradiant photonic signal for sudden decreases; determining, throughnegative imaging, coordinates of a detected object; and creating acorresponding surface profile of said detected object.
 11. The method ofclaim 10, wherein said detected object is a stealth object.
 12. Themethod of claim 2, wherein said first and second pulses areself-deflecting, thereby propagating in a curved trajectory.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein said first and second pulses are Airy beams.14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of simulatingthe trajectory of a bullet by modulating said Airy beams such that saidAiry beams follow a parabolic propagation that is coincident with thatof bullets in air due to gravitation.
 15. The method of claim 12,wherein said backscattering path follows said curved trajectory.
 16. Themethod of claim 12, wherein said backscattering path is different fromsaid curved trajectory.
 17. The method of claim 2, wherein saiddetermining step further comprises the step of modulating said pair ofpump pulses to enhance said superradiant backscattering by minimizationof out-of-phase interactions between said second plurality of excitedmolecules and said at least some of said emitted photons.
 18. The methodof claim 2, wherein said first pulse and said second pulse havedifferent wave numbers.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said secondpulse has an intensity of from about 10 KW/m∧2 to about 100 MW/m∧2, suchthat Rabi oscillations are effected in said first plurality of excitedmolecules and/or said second plurality of excited molecules.
 20. Themethod of claim 18, wherein said first pulse has more energy than saidsuperradiant photonic signal.
 21. The method of claim 2, wherein atleast one pulse of said pair of pulses has a spectral band of from about0.1 THz to about 10 THz.
 22. The method of claim 2, wherein saiddetermining step further comprises the steps of formulating proposedwaveforms and testing said proposed waveforms.
 23. The method of claim22, wherein said generating step is performed through line- by-linemodulation of comb lines via a Global Searching Algorithm.
 24. Themethod of claim 22, wherein said formulating step is performed viarecursive steps, starting with initial waveforms and randomly changingthe amplitude and phase of comb lines, said comb lines constituting saidproposed waveforms.
 25. The method of claim 22, wherein said testingstep is performed via real-time evaluation of said proposed waveforms,said evaluation comprising the steps of generating a test laser havingsaid proposed waveforms, passing said test laser through a reference gassample and measuring the excitation of said reference gas sample. 26.The method of claim 22, wherein said testing step is performednumerically by solving level transition dynamics.
 27. The method ofclaim 22, wherein said formulating step and said testing step areconducted using global numeric optimization.
 28. The method of claim 2,wherein said first pulse and said second pulse have the same propagationspeed but launch at angles to meet at a predetermined point in space.29. The method of claim 2, wherein said first pulse and said secondpulse have the same launch angle, whereby said first launch angle equalssaid second launch angle.
 30. The method of claim 2, wherein saiddetecting step is performed by a mode- resolving photon detector. 31.The method of claim 2, wherein said detecting step is performed by asensitive photon detector.